Estrace® (estradiol) is a prescription hormone replacement medication. It is approved for a number of uses, such as:
- Treating menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness
- Preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
- Replacing hormones in younger women whose ovaries do not produce enough estrogen (or who have had their ovaries removed)
- Reducing the symptoms of certain cancers (in both men and women) that have spread throughout the body.
This article refers to Estrace tablets. The medication also comes as a vaginal cream
(see Estrace Vaginal Cream for more information). However, this is only approved for treating the vaginal
symptoms of menopause.
Estrace tablets are marketed by Warner Chilcott and are manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company or Barr Laboratories, Inc. Generic versions are made by several different manufacturers.
During and after
menopause, women experience a drop in estrogen levels, as well as a shift in the balance of estrogens that the body produces. Before menopause, the ovaries produce the main source of estrogen, known as estradiol. After menopause, the main source of estrogen is androstenedione, which is produced by the adrenal gland and is converted into an estrogen known as estrone. Menopausal symptoms and changes result from both the decrease in estrogen and the shift from estradiol to estrone.
Estrace contains estradiol, which increases estrogen levels and helps restore the estrogen balance back to levels that are normally seen in premenopausal women. It helps to relieve menopausal symptoms by replacing the estrogen that the ovaries no longer produce. Because estrogen helps to keep the bones strong, the decrease in estrogen during menopause causes a significant weakening of the bones, often resulting in
osteoporosis. By providing estrogen, Estrace can help prevent these menopause-related bone changes.
Very high doses can work to relieve the symptoms of certain cancers, including breast and
prostate cancer. For prostate cancer, high doses of the medication work by suppressing testosterone and other male hormones that "feed" prostate cancer. It is not entirely clear how high doses work for
breast cancer, as estrogen usually stimulates breast cancer cell growth. Estrace will not cure these types of cancers and should only be used to relieve symptoms when other treatments have failed to treat the cancer adequately.
When and How to Use Estrace
Some general considerations for when and how to use Estrace include the following:
- The medication comes in tablet form. It is taken by mouth, typically once a day.
- You can take Estrace with or without food. If the medication bothers your stomach, try taking it with food, as some women find estrogens irritating to the stomach.
- Estrace can be taken cyclically (with periodic breaks every once in a while) or continuously (every single day, without any breaks). Your healthcare provider will help you decide which method is best for you.
- It does not matter what time of day you take the medication, although it is best to take it at the same time each day.
- For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed.
The dose of Estrace your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- The medical condition being treated
- How you respond to the drug
- Whether you have had a hysterectomy
- Other medical conditions you may have.
As always, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
Just like any medicine, Estrace can cause side effects. However, not everyone who uses the medication will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
Common side effects include but are not limited to:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Breast pain
- Headaches
- Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
- Vaginal bleeding.
(Click Estrace Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to using Estrace if you have:
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Estrace is not the only available method of relieving menopausal symptoms. Other options include:
- Coping strategies (such as wearing lighter clothes for hot flashes or using a vaginal lubricant for dryness)
- Other medications, such as other estrogens or combinations of estrogens with progestins
- Natural remedies, including herbal supplements and "bioidentical" hormone replacement.
What If I Take an Overdose?
People who take too much Estrace may experience the following symptoms:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Vaginal bleeding.
How Should Estrace Be Stored?
Estrace tablets should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture and heat, in an airtight container. Keep this and all other medications out of the reach of children.
If you do not take your Estrace as scheduled, take your missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
Estrace tablets come in the following strengths:
- Estrace 0.5 mg
- Estrace 1 mg
- Estrace 2 mg.
There are currently several generic versions of Estrace licensed for sale
(see Generic Estrace for more information).
